As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Act” means the Clean Water Act (formally referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972), P.L. 92-500, as amended (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq).

“Available recycled water service” means the existence of an operable recycled water distribution main within one hundred feet of the property line.

“Coastal waters” means all waters surrounding the islands of the State from the coast of any island to a point three miles seaward from the coast, and, in the case of streams, rivers, and drainage ditches, to a point three miles seaward from their point of discharge into the sea and includes those brackish waters, fresh waters, and salt waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide.

“Complaint” means any written charge filed with or by the department that a person is violating any provision of this chapter or any rule or order adopted pursuant to this chapter.

“Department” means the department of health.

“Director” means the director of health.

“Domestic sewage” is waste and wastewater from humans or household operations that:

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Individual wastewater systems include cesspools, septic tanks, and household aerobic units. As used here “waste” means any liquid, gaseous, and solid substance, whether treated or not, and whether or not it pollutes or tends to pollute state waters, and “waste” excludes industrial and agricultural substances that are not combined with substances from humans or household operations. As used here “wastewater” means any liquid “waste”, as used above, whether treated or not.

“Drainage ditch” means that facility used to carry storm runoff only.

“Effluent” means any substance discharged into state waters, publicly owned treatment works, or sewerage systems, including, but not limited to, sewage, waste, garbage, feculent matter, offal, filth, refuse, any animal, mineral, or vegetable matter or substance, and any liquid, gaseous, or solid substances.

“Effluent sources” include, but are not limited to, sewage outfalls, refuse systems and plants, water systems and plants, industrial plants, and contributors to publicly owned treatment works or sewerage systems.

“Gray water” means any untreated wastewater that has not come into contact with toilet waste. Gray water includes used water from bathtubs, showers, and bathroom wash basins and water from clothes washers and laundry tubs; provided that the water is not contaminated with any household hazardous waste as defined in § 342G-1, hazardous waste as defined in § 342J-2, or any contaminant the department deems inappropriate. Gray water excludes wastewater from food preparation sinks or dishwashers.

“Industrial user” means a source of water pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works from any nondomestic source regulated under section 307(b), (c), or (d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

“Management practices” include treatment, processing, storage, transport, use, and disposal.

“Navigable waters” means the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.

“New source” means any source of water pollution the construction of which is commenced after the adoption of rules prescribing a standard of performance which will be applicable to such source.

“Party” means each person or agency named as party or properly entitled to be a party in any court or agency proceeding.

“Permit” means written authorization from the director to discharge waste or to construct, modify, or operate any water pollution source. A permit authorizes the grantee to cause or discharge waste or water pollution in a manner or amount, or to do an act, not forbidden by this chapter or by rules adopted under this chapter, but requiring review by the department.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation, federal agency, the State or any of its political subdivisions, trust, estate, or any other legal entity.

“Pollution” means water pollution.

“Recycled water” and “reclaimed water” mean treated wastewater that by design is intended or used for a beneficial purpose.

“Sewage sludge” means any solid, semi-solid, or liquid residue removed during the treatment of municipal wastewater or domestic sewage. Sewage sludge includes, but is not limited to, solids removed during primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment, scum, septage, portable toilet pumping, Type III Marine Sanitation device pumpings (Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 159), and sewage sludge products. Sewage sludge does not include grit, screenings, or ash generated during the incineration of sewage sludge.

“Sewerage system” means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, and force mains, and all other structures, devices, appurtenances, and facilities used for collecting or conducting wastes to an ultimate point for treatment or disposal.

“Standard of performance” means a standard for the control of the discharge of water pollutants which reflects the greatest degree of effluent reduction which the director determines to be achievable through application of the best demonstrated control technology, processes, operating methods, or other alternatives, including, where practicable, a standard permitting no discharge of water pollutants.

“State waters” means all waters, fresh, brackish, or salt, around and within the State, including but not limited to coastal waters, wetlands, streams, rivers, drainage ditches, ponds, reservoirs, canals, ground waters, and lakes; provided that drainage ditches, ponds, and reservoirs required as a part of a water pollution control system are excluded.

“Territorial seas” means the belt of the seas measured from the line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast that is in direct contact with the open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of inland waters, and extending seaward a distance of three miles.

“Treatment works” means any plant or other facility used for the purpose of controlling water pollution.

“Variance” means special written authorization from the director to cause or discharge waste or water pollution in a manner or in an amount in excess of applicable standards, or to do an act that deviates from the requirements of rules adopted under this chapter.

“Waste” means sewage, industrial and agricultural matter, and all other liquid, gaseous, or solid substance, including radioactive substance, whether treated or not, which may pollute or tend to pollute the waters of this State.

“Wastewater” means any liquid waste, whether treated or not, and whether animal, mineral, or vegetable including agricultural, industrial, and thermal wastes.

“Water pollutant” means dredged spoil, solid refuse, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical waste, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, soil, sediment, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste.

“Water pollution” means:

as will or is likely to create a nuisance or render such waters unreasonably harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, safety, or welfare, including harm, detriment, or injury to public water supplies, fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes and agricultural and industrial research and scientific uses of such waters or as will or is likely to violate any water quality standards, effluent standards, treatment and pretreatment standards, or standards of performance for new sources adopted by the department.

“Water quality certification” or “certification” means a statement that asserts that a proposed discharge resulting from any activity, including but not limited to the construction or operation of facilities, will not violate applicable water quality standards; water quality related state laws; or water quality related provisions in sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307 of the Act.

“Water quality standards” means provisions of state law that provide for a designated use or designated uses for state waters and water quality criteria for the waters based upon these uses. Water quality standards are to protect the public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water, and serve the purposes of the Act.